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Thursday, March 30, 2017

Having compared the most recent British transportation
budget (here) to the awful U.S. budget document (here), I thought it would be
useful to take a peek at the new Canadian budget (synopsis here).

In truth, it’s not as aggressive as I would have hoped, but
there are definitely some steps in the right direction.

While the U.S. budget calls for eliminating the transit New
Starts program – and foreshadows cuts in the formula programs – the Canadian
budget calls for a greatly expanded
program of federal aid for transit capital.The budget earmarks $20 Billion Canadian over 5 years for
Phase II of the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.(By my back-of-the-envelope calculations, this would
translate to a program of about $30 Billion US a year in this country.)

The transit initiative is an element of a “Transportation
2030” strategic plan (here) which, although not as focused as I would like, includes
an emphasis on “clean and innovative” transportation.

We look for more to come, Canadians, especially in these
difficult times down south!

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

I wrote recently about the ugliness of the proposed transportation
budget in this country (here).As
it turns out, the recent British budget for transportation provides a dramatic
contrast – one that should make us shake our heads, or perhaps hope for better
days.

The British budget lists 10 transportation programs targeted for
increased funding (I won’t go into the differences in budgeting practices.Suffice it to say that I’m referencing
the mid-year UK “Autumn Statement” budget released last November, details
here).The 10 programs (translated
into Americanese) are:

I particularly like the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor project,
which aims to coordinate new housing with rail and roadway improvements to support
this strategic corridor (report here).I think we call that planning.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Bad.Just how
bad is unknown, since we don’t have the details.The budget summary document (available here) proposes a $2.4
Billion, or 13%, cut from baseline funding, but only 5 specific provisions are
identified:

1.Privatize air traffic control,

2.Eliminate funding for long-distance Amtrak
trains,

3.Eliminate FTA’s New Starts program for transit
(for projects not yet at the stage of “full funding agreement”),

4.Eliminate the Essential Air Service program, and

5.Eliminate funding for the TIGER discretionary
funding program.

These changes certainly don’t add up to $2.4 Billion, and I
have no idea how OMB plans to get to that number.It won’t be pretty.

The 5 provisions themselves reflect the thinking of the 2016
Republican platform, although in less radical (or perhaps only introductory)
form (see my comments on the platform here).

Ironically, two of the targets for cuts – Essential Air
Service and Amtrak long-distance trains – are subsidies for transportation in mainly
Red State “flyover” territory.

The largest and most consequential hit is transit New
Starts.This program is already
starved for funds compared to demonstrated need – let alone what we should be doing to build an advanced,
greatly expanded public transportation component for a resilient, sustainable
21st century transportation system.

What about the anticipated infrastructure initiative that is
supposed to draw bipartisan support?Certainly there is no money for anything like that here, adding to the
suspicion that that initiative will focus on a giveaway of highways and bridges
to concessionaires who will fund improvements through very high tolls.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

I was saddened to learn of the recent passing of my old friend
and colleague David Burwell.

David was a giant in the transportation reform community and
had a real impact in changing how transportation happens in this country.From rails-to-trails, to federal
reauthorization, to land use and transportation, to climate change and
transportation, he always seemed to be at the cutting edge, using his fertile
mind and sharp wit to open up new possibilities.